Golf glove construction



March I, 1966 J. D. HARVEY 3,237,950

GOLF GLOVE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

Jwaii D. Harvey BY 9mm, M%w& M4

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,237,950 GOLF GLOVE CONSTRUCTION Jack D. Harvey, Rte. 2, near Dundee, Ohio Filed Mar. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 349,039 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-166) This invention relates to golf glove devices and more particularly the invention relates to an improved golf gripping aid which assists the player in forming a correct grip, and further which permits the golfer to maintain a firm grip throughout the entire golf swing.

The use of thin leather gloves by golfers as an aid for various purposes is and has been very common for a long time. A primary purpose in using such a glove is to provide a means of firmly gripping the golf club handle. A further feature of such gloves is that they provide an effective means of preventing the formation of blisters on the hands of the golfer occasioned by the club twisting quickly when the ball is struck by the golfer. Such devices, being gloves, only fit on one hand or the other or both hands and, therefore, do not aid in the proper formation of the correct golf grip.

This proper grip formation has been recognized as one of the fundamental necessities for playing good golf. Thus, many difiiculties which a golfer encounters and many faulty shots can be directly traced to the golfers use of an improper grip. That is to say, that merely grasping the golf club with both hands in any comfortable manner does not necessarily provide what is generally considered to be the proper grip. Many experts have written a great deal upon the subject, and much has been taught by professional golfers to aid others less skilled in the various aspects of golf, of which the formation of the proper grip is almost without exception the first to be taught or discussed. The usual golf glove, while serving several useful purposes, does not aid in the formation of a proper or correct golf grip. Since a glove fits on either one hand or the other, it cannot and does not have any effect upon the relationship of the two hands with respect to each other as they grip a golf club handle.

Devices having additional features added to a golf glove have been devised in an attempt to aid in the proper formation of the golf grip. Most of these devices are little more than modifications of a golf glove either formed by cutting the ends of the fingers off, or the addition of straps which may be hooked over the end of the golf club handle to prevent the same from slipping out of a golfers hands, etc. Likewise, pockets have been formed on gloves to provide a space for receiving one or more fingers of the hand other than that which wears the glove. These prior devices like the standard golf glove do not provide a desirable means for aiding the golfer in the formation of the correct grip,

It is also known that the correct grip must be a firm grip but should not be overly tight. The usual style golf glove does not aid in any manner the firmness with which a club can be held by the golfer. Thus, a golfer is solely dependent upon himself in establishing a correct grip formation and maintaining the correct grip throughout the golf swing.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which aids the golfer in correctly forming and maintaining throughout the swing the correct or proper grip.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which aids the golfer in maintaining a firm nonslip grip without requiring the golfer to exert an undue amount of pressure with his gripping hands.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which will, when worn, prevent the golf club from slipping in the golfers hands during his swing when the surface of the club has become wet from perspiration, rain or the like.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which aids the golfer in the formation of a proper grip by permitting him to place his hands in correct relationship to one another and the club when the golfer is using any one of the three normally accepted and popular grip styles. I

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which aids in training beginning golfers by providing the means for forming and maintaining the proper grip throughout the swing.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf glove construction which aids the golfer in forming and maintaining the correct grip, yet is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, which does not readily wear out, and which is easy to use.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difiiculties overcome by the construction which comprises the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the princi-ples-is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawing, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the following claims forming a part hereof.

The nature of the improved golf glove construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a relatively thin sheet of strong, flexible material forming a body, the body consisting of two elongated portions which are longitudinally offset from one another, each of the offset portions having a plurality of holes consisting of a row formed therethrough adapted to receive fingers of a golfers hand, one of the holes being slightly larger than the other holes whereby it is adapted to receive one finger and a portion of a second finger, the two rows being approximately parallel to and spaced apart from one another, and one of the surfaces of the body preferably having nonslip qualities.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improved golf glove construction is shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which;

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the golf glove construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a golfers hands as he is about to insert his fingers in the holes of the golf-gripping device;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the golf glove construction completely placed on the golfers hands with the hands positioned at a golf club handle preliminary to the final formation of the grip; and i A FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the golf glove device of the present invention in position with a golfers hands forming a grip on a golf club handle,

Similar numerals refer to similarparts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

For the purpose of illustration in the following description, the gripping device and its use and the illustrations shown in the drawing are for a right-handed golfer, and the terms used will indicate the device as gripped with either the left hand or the right hand of a righthanded golfer. It is to be understood, however, that the device of the present invention may be used with equal effectiveness by a left-handed golfer merely by reversing the various positions and substituting the right hand for the left hand and the left hand for the right hand of a right-handed golfer. Furthermore, as will be discussed more in detail below, the device of the present invention may be used by either a right-handed or a left-handed golfer without alteration.

The golf glove device of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of a sheet of relatively thin flexible material 5 which includes two offset portions 6 and 7. Offset portion 6 has a plurality of holes 8a, 8b and 80 formed therethrough which are adapted to receive the middle finger 18a, the ring finger 18b and little finger 181: of the right hand, respectively. As can be seen in the drawing, the hole 80 which receives the little finger 180 of the right hand is somewhat larger than the remaining holes in this row for purposes to be described more in detail below.

Offset portion 7 is provided with a series of holes 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d. These holes are adapted to receive the index finger 19a, middle finger 1%, ring finger 19c and little finger 19d of the left hand of the golfer. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, preliminary to gripping the golf club, the golfer places the four fingers of his left hand through the four holes 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d in offset portion 7, placing the three fingers of his right hand through the three holes formed in offset portion 6. Once having the respective fingers fully in their respective holes the golfer is ready to grasp and form the proper grip on a golf club handle. If the golfer desires he may keep the golf glove on his left hand throughout the entire golf game.

FIG. 3 shows the position of the golf glove device of the present invention with the fingers of the right hand and left hand inserted in their respective holes, and shows the hands and glove as the golfer would hold the club preliminary to finally forming his grip.

To achieve this position shown in FIG. 3, the golfer as described above has inserted the fingers in their proper holes and has placed the fingers of the left hand at the underside of a handle 10 of a golf club, allowing the central portion 11 of the golf club device to lay across the top surface of the club and in turn has placed the fingers of the right hand at the underside of the handle 10 of the golf club.

While placing the central portion 11 around the club the index finger 19a of the left hand is inserted in hole 80 from the direction opposite to the direction in which the little finger 18a is placed in hole 80. Thus, the tip of the index finger 19a and the little finger of the right hand 180 both occupy the space provided by the enlarged hole 80.

An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of the unique spacing of the two series of holes formed in offset portions 6 and 7 in relation to one another. The three holes 8a, 8b and 8c lie generally in line with one another and the four holes 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are generally in line with one another, and the two rows of holes are generally parallel but spaced apart from one another. The spacing between the two rows of holes, while to a certain extent dependent upon the size of the golfers hand and the size of the golfers club handle, is such that the central portion 11 will circumferentially surround the top portion of the club handle 10 while providing the correct positioning of the fingers of the two hands with respect to one another. Further, the central portion 11 is elongated, thereby providing a large area of material which, when the golfer grips the golf club, prevents movement between the two hands.

A further important aspect is the relationship of the position of holes 8b, 8c, 9a and 9b with respect to one another and as positioned on offsets 6 and 7, respectively. That is, hole 8c is located substantially opposite hole 9a. Thus, the holes so positioned provide for the correct placement of the respective fingers when placed through these holes.

A still further aspect of the present invention is that the distance between the two rows of holes is such that when the golfer grips the club handle, the entire elongated central portion 11 contacts the club handle and exerts pressure on the club handle allowing the golfer to maintain a firm grip on the club handle without exerting an undue amount of pressure with his fingers. The golfer may thus maintain a firm but relaxed grip throughout his swing.

The procedure described is for the formation of the most common and most popular overlap-style grip. The overlapped style grip normally consists of gripping the handle of a golf club with the left hand and placing the little finger of the right hand in the groove between the index and second fingers of the left hand and grasping the club handle with the right hand. The thumb of the left hand will be positioned between the palm of the right hand and the handle of the club.

The second type of grip which is used is the interlocked type gri wherein the index finger of the left hand is placed between the ring finger and little finger of the right hand and the little finger of the right hand is positioned between the index finger and middle finger of the left hand, thus forming an interlock between the two hands.

The club handle is then grasped and the final position of the hands relative to one another will consist of the index finger of the left hand resting at or near the knuckles of the back of the right hand and the end of the little finger of the right hand being positioned on the knuckles on the back of the left hand, these two fingers being interlocked with one another.

The third common grip is the baseball-style grip wherein the two hands are placed adpacent one another on the club handle and the handle grasped between the two hands, much as one would hold a baseball bat, with no interlock or overlap between the little finger of the right hand and the index finger of the left hand.

To complete the grip using the golf glove of the present invention, the golfer after having inserted the proper fingers in their respective holes and positioning the hand at the club handle, merely grasps the club handle with his left hand and completes the grip by grasping the club with his right hand.

The thus-completed grip is illustrated in FIG. 4 which shows in full line the handle of the club of the golf glove device of the present invention and shows in addition thereto, in dotted lines, the position of the golfers hands.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the position of the golf glove device is such that the elongated central portion 11 of the device rests or lays around the top surface of the handle with the offset portions of the device wrapped around and partially under the bottom side of the handle.

The material used to form the present invention may be any of a number of thin, strong flexible materials, such as vinyl plastic, leather or heavy fabric. Furthermore, the surface of the device which will contact the handle of the club may be provided with a nonslip type of surface such as backing the leather or vinyl plastic with a rough fabric material.

The device being made out of a relatively thin sheet of any of the above-mentioned materials is flexible in that it may be easily wrapped around a handle of a golf club. However, in accordance with the present invention the material is strong and cannot be stretched readily, thereby providing a means of cont-rolling and limiting the amount of movement of the golfers hands with respect to one another and with respect to the handle once the proper grip has been formed.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a small notched portion 12 on the outside edge of the offset portion 7 for use with the interlocktype grip. This notched edge provides a convenient space for guiding the placement of and receiving the little finger of the right hand when the club is grasped without providing wrinkles which might ultimately lead to the formation of sores or blisters on the golfers hand.

The device as illustrated has four holes for the golfers left hand and three holes for the golfers right hand. It has been found, however, that to achieve the advantages of the present invention, it is only necessary to provide offset portions having two or more holes for the right hand and two or more holes for the left hand.

Thus, a device incorporating the features of the present invention may be constructed having only holes 8b and 8c and 9a and 9b. The holes thus provide openings for the index and middle finger of the left hand (holes 9a and 9b) and openings for the little and ring fingers of the right hand (holes 8b and 8c). The additional holes 8a, 9a and 9d serve to further assist the golfer in forming the correct grip but are not absolutely essential to proper functioning of the device.

The device while described for a right-handed golfer can be used with equal success by a left-handed golfer by merely turning the device over. Thus, a left-handed golfer would insert the fingers of his right hand in holes which receive the fingers of the left hand of a righthanded golfer, and would insert the fingers of his left hand in those holes which receive the fingers of the right hand of a right-handed golfer.

When a golfer insertshis fingers in the proper holes he may form the correct grip and maintain this correct grip throughout the entire golf swing since the placement of the various holes correctly positions his hands with respect to one another and prevents the hands from moving on the handle of the club with respect to one another and also prevents motion of the club handle with respect to the golfers hands.

Also, by providing the handle contacting surface of the device with a nonslip type surface, a considerable amount of friction area is in contact with the golf club handle and an elfective means of preventing slippage of the club is achieved even though the hands of the golfer or the club handle are wet from perspiration or rain.

Important aspects of the invention are the provision of a flexible sheet of material which may be used without alteration by a right-handed or a left-handed golfer; the provision of two series of holes spaced in particular relation to one another so that when a golfer inserts his hands in the holes the hands are correctly positioned to form the proper golf grip; the provision of a golf glove which maintains more contact with the handle of the golf club than the amount of contact which would normally be had with the hands alone; and the provision of an elongated portion between the two series of parallel holes which prevent relative movement between these two series of holes during the golf swing.

Thus the golf glove device of the present invention provides an effective means of assisting the golfer in the formation of the correct grip, assists the golfer in maintaining the correct grip throughout the entire golf swing, and aids in preventing the golf club from slipping in the golfers hand during the swing.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no un- 5 necessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the use of the preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Golf glove construction for use in hand-gripping the handle of a golf club including a body of relatively thin, strong flexible material having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being provided with a plurality of in-line finger-receiving openings, the openings in the first portion spaced apart from the openings in the second portion, the plurality of openings in the first portion consisting of at least a first and second opening for receiving the index finger and middle finger of one hand respectively, the plurality of openings in the second portion consisting of at least a first and second opening adapted to receive the little and ring fingers of the other hand respectively, the first opening in the first portion being located substantially opposite the first opening in the second portion, and the first opening in the second portion being slightly larger than the remainder of the openings, whereby said first opening in the second portion may simultaneously receive the little finger of one hand and the index finger of the other hand.

2. Golf glove construction as defined in claim 1 in which the openings in the first portion are parallel with the openings in the second portion.

3. Golf glove construction for use in hand-gripping the handle of a golf club including a body of relatively thin, strong flexible material having a first portion and a second portion, each portion being provided with a plurality of in-line finger-receiving openings, the openings in the first portion spaced apart from and parallel to the openings in the second portion, the plurality of openings in the first portion consisting of first, second, third and fourth openings adapted to receive the index, middle, ring and little fingers of one hand respectively, the plurallty of openings in the second portion consisting of first, second and third openings adapted to receive the little, ring and middle fingers of the other hand respectively, the first opening in the first portion being located substantially opposite the first opening in the second portion, and the first opening in the second portion being slightly larger than the remainder of the openings, whereby said first opening in the second portion may simultaneously receive the little finger of one hand and the index finger of the other hand.

4. Golf glove construction for use in hand-gripping the handle of a golf club including a body of relatively thin, strong flexible material having a first portion and a second portion and an elongated central portion, said first and second portions each having an outer edge and being provided with a plurality of in-line finger-receiving openings spaced between the central portion and the outer edge, the openings in the first portion being parallel to the openings in the second portion, the plurality of openings in the first portion consisting of first, second, third and fourth openings adapted to receive the index, middle, ring and little fingers of one hand respectively, the plurality of openings in the second portion consisting of first, second and third openings adapted to receive the little, ring and middle fingers of the other hand respectively, the first opening in the first portion being located substantially opposite the first opening in the second por- 3,237,950 7 8 tion, a notch in the outer edge of the first portion located References Cited by the Examiner opposite the space between the first and second openings UNITED STATES PATENTS in the first portion adapted to receive the end of the little finger received by the first opening in the second portion, 11200580 10/1916 Brenner 2 20 and the first opening in the second portion being slightly 5 2,379,430 7/1945 Frost 2 159 larger than the remainder of the openings whereby said 2474030 6/1949 Brasweu first opening in the second portion may simultaneously receive the little finger of one hand and the index finger DELBERT LOWE Prlmary Exammer of the other hand. GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. GOLF GLOVE CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN HAND-GRIPPING THE HANDLE OF A GOLF CLUB INCLUDING A BODY OF RELATIVELY THIN, STRONG FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A FIRST PORTION AND A SECOND PORTION, EACH PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF IN-LINE FINGER-RECEIVING OPENINGS, THE OPENINGS IN THE FIRST PORTION SPACED APART FROM THE OPENINGS IN THE SECOND PORTION, THE PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN THE FIRST PORTION CONSISTING OF AT LEAST A FIRST AND SECOND OPENING FOR RECEIVING THE INDEX FINGER AND MIDDLE FINGER OF ONE HAND RESPECTIVELY, THE PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN THE SECOND PORTION CONSISTING 